KLIA Aerotrain to return in second quarter of 2025 after RM456m overhaul, MAHB confirms
SEPANG, Jan 24 — The Automated People Mover System (Aerotrain) in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is expected to resume service in the second quarter of this year, its operator, the Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) said.
In a press conference here, MAHB managing director, Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani said that immense technical improvements have been made with extensive testings ongoing in phases, to ensure service resumes within the said deadline.
Izani said that the total cost of the repair works and upgrades costs RM456 million.
He mentioned that the best-case scenario would be receiving the certificate to operate immediately after successful tests. However, the Q2 timeline is important in case further tests are needed.
When asked as to why the initial January completion date was set, Izani said that it was an “overambitious target”.
“Based on technical requirements, it is important for us to really follow the regime of testing required to ensure safety and reliability. Hence, when we charted out the timeline, we can only complete the 80 tests which is required to be done, until April.
“Therefore, as soon as those tests are completed, then we can start operation of the services. Not long from now, a few months away,” Izani explained.
During a media briefing session, MAHB’s chief operating officer, Gordon Stewart explained that technical works are presently ongoing as per schedule, and that three more testing phases are in the works. These are the Aerotrain dynamic test, the system acceptance test and interface test, as well as the final system integration test.
“It’s not just trains that we have been installing here, but an entire train system.
“The first two aerotrains were delivered in August (2024), the third aerotrain arrived in October. The all-important energisation took place in October as well,” Stewart said.
Izani also assured that there will be no disruptions to the mobility of Asean delegates and guests, as proper systems have been implemented to ensure smooth arrangements.
“In fact, on this floor, all the lounges have been upgraded to facilitate the movement of the delegates and also, we have arranged for the delegates to use the Bunga Raya Complex. So, I would say, no impact on the Asean 2025 meeting.”
In March 2022, MAHB announced it had awarded the KLIA Aerotrain Replacement Project, which has a timeline for completion of three years.
However, the project faced delays, which were followed by the awarding of a new contract in January 2024 to a consortium comprising Alstom, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for the Aerotrain, and the JMC-Pestech joint venture (JV) to steer the project back on track.
On January 15, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook stated that the timeline for the Aerotrain replacement project remains uncertain, even though the project was initially announced to be completed by the end of this month. Last September, Loke said that the aerotrain is expected to be operational by the end of this month as two sets of trains have arrived.
He said the system still has various testing stages to complete before it can be put into service.
Loke added that “more can be done at a faster pace” at Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) that operates the country’s airport, saying that the government-linked company was contributing to the delay.
The minister said he was unhappy over the matter as he is responsible for explaining the matter to the public even though the project predated his return to the Transport Ministry.
